Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Nuclear Country Notes

Spain

Nine nuclear reactors were brought into commission between 1968 and 1988: at the end of 2005, they had an aggregate net capacity of 7 588 MWe and in 2005 provided 19.6% of Spain's electricity generation. Two of the units are BWRs (total capacity 1 510 MWe), the rest being PWRs.

José Cabrera-1 (Zorita-1), Spain's oldest NPP (142 MWe), was permanently shut down on 30 April 2006 after 38 years of operation. It had previously been scheduled for closure in 2008, but in 2004 the Government decided to close it two years earlier.

The Spanish WEC Member Committee states that, until recently, nuclear power policy in Spain has been based on the non-entrance of new units, relying instead on repowering some units and decommissioning old plants. Recent government announcements indicate a continuation of this policy. An important part of the energy programme will be the gradual substitution of nuclear plants by other energy sources, mainly renewables, in order to reach Spain's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

The Member Committee also reports that, on the other hand, the Ministerio de Industria Turismo y Comercio has opened a Debate Forum dealing with the future of nuclear energy in Spain. This Forum opens the door (or at least does not close it) for long-term development, although the Member Committee considers that it would be highly speculative to make any projection on this basis.